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Arthur Shelko, The Hideout, Lake Ariel, died Monday in the Wayne Memorial Hospital after being stricken ill. His wife is the former Eleanor Stone. He was 76 years old, but if you knew him, you know that he had no idea that he wasn’t in his twenties.

Born in Hackensack, New Jersey, he was the son of the late Samuel and Fanny Bailinson Shelko.

Art was a loving and beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. He was affectionately known to his family as Artie The One Man Party. Honest, patriotic, hardworking, dependable, loyal, genuine and sincere, he was known for his sense of humor and positive spirit. He was at his absolute happiest when he was helping others. He was a huge presence in this world and he leaves behind a void that can never be filled.

He was a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, Class of 1960.

Art was a gifted mechanical engineer who spent his career designing and building power plants, and spent his weekends designing and building the log cabin he dreamed of living in as a boy. He touched every log, made every cabinet, and installed the electricity and plumbing, working on weekends until the house was done. When he retired in 2003, he and Ellie moved to the cabin in the Hideout full-time, and never one to have idle hands, he drew up an addition to the house, doubling its size, and built all of that himself as well, with the help of his friends. There was nothing he couldn’t fix, to the delight and great relief of many, most particularly his daughters, who had Daddy on speed dial almost before speed dial existed.

Art loved The Hideout; he always called it home, from the moment that he and Ellie first bought property there in 1979. He previously served as Chairman of the Board and President of the Property Owners Association, and was serving on the Board of Directors and as President of the Hideout Adult Social Group. He had served as Chair and member of the Hideout’s Disciplinary and Security Committees. He was a performer with The Hideout Legends. He had served as President of Temple Beth Mordecai in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

He was an avid golfer, woodworker and bowler. He loved boating, dancing, fishing, skiing, and mostly spending time with Ellie, always holding her hand.

Also surviving are daughters Renee Tortoriello and her husband Michael of New Jersey, Wendee Martin and her husband Steven of Denver and Loree Shelko Nail and her husband Eric of New York; a brother Joel Shelko and his wife Lois of Florida; grandchildren Eric Tortoriello, Samantha Groch, Stephanie Rullo and her husband Andrew, Arthur Groch and his wife Shelly, Kristen Tortoriello, Theresa Triplett and her husband Bobby, Steven Martin and his wife Ashley, and Alyson Tortoriello; nine great grandchildren; and six nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Friday evening at 6 p.m. in the James Wilson Funeral Home 143 Gravity Rd. Lake Ariel.

Friends may call Friday from 4-7 p.m. in the funeral home.

Interment will be private at the convenience of the family in the Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675 or by visiting www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate.